The Detroit Lions are facing another setback on defense as the 2025 season begins, following a 2024 campaign plagued by injuries. Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike has been ruled out for the entire season due to a torn ACL, head coach Dan Campbell announced. The news comes as a disappointment for a team hoping to turn the page after last year’s injury struggles.
Onwuzurike had opened training camp on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but the specifics of his injury were not publicly disclosed until now. Coach Campbell shared that the injury was significant and required surgery, making it impossible for Onwuzurike to return this season. He emphasized that the situation was out of the player’s control and that the necessary medical steps had been taken.
Levi Onwuzurike (NFL)Lions Lose Key Defensive Anchor as Onwuzurike Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury
The injury marks a major loss for the Lions’ defensive front, where Onwuzurike had emerged as a consistent contributor. In the 2024 season, he played in 61 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and missed only one game—standing out as one of the few players who managed to stay healthy during a difficult year for the defense. His durability and presence were expected to be key for the 2025 season.
Onwuzurike has been with the Lions since being selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite some early-career injuries, he had shown promise when healthy and was viewed as a player capable of anchoring the defensive line. With his absence now confirmed, the Lions will need to explore other options to bolster their interior defense as training camp progresses.
